Competition, it’s in the blood. Former standout Dubois athlete and sophomore Black Hills State running back Wyatt Trembly was born into competition. The son of the late, legendary coach, David Trembly, and his mom, Adria of Dubois, and grandson of the late Duane Trembly, former head coach of Cheyenne Seton and Cheyenne East, began competing on the wrestling mat a long time ago.
“My first real competition was second grade, USA wrestling. My very first match I won,” Wyatt said. “I was naturally gifted as an athlete. The Second match I got my butt kicked from a good kid from Casper. I hated losing. I think I only won one tournament that first year. That first year was rough. I’m competitive and hate losing. It was probably the best thing for me.”
Wyatt is majoring in biology at Black Hills state with minors in chemistry and sports medicine. His first year he had a double major in chemistry and biology.
His goal is to go to medical school through the cooperative WWAMI program. WWAMI is an acronym for the five states served by the University of Washington School of Medicine: Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.
Wyatt has a couple of paths he can pursue after graduating from Black Hills State.
“I could go into orthopedic surgery or sign on to a university as the school orthopedic surgeon,” Wyatt said. “Another option is to do a residency as a family physician, then a fellowship as a sports physician.”
Former Dubois High School student and athlete Curt Leseberg us WWAMI and is doing a fellowship at Vanderbilt University and has been in contact with Wyatt.
Wyatt’s connections to Dubois remain strong.
David and Adria built a cabin on Union Pass, a perfect place for a family dedicated to life in the outdoors. From an early age, David and Adria took Wyatt fishing, hunting, hiking, and snowmobiling on Warm Springs and in the country above.
Wyatt’s career as a Dubois Ram began in fifth grade with track.
“I was all over the place,“ Wyatt said.
In middle school, he has school records in the 400, 800, 1600-meter runs, and the 55-meter hurdles.
Like all true competitors, he knows his competition and was quick to point out that Sterling Baker has the Dubois Middle School record in the 200-meter hurdles and Riley Copeland in the 100-meter hurdles.
Under Coach David Trembly, Dubois was a power in both boys’ and girls’ hurdling.
Wrestling and basketball don’t often mix, but Wyatt played basketball from fifth to seventh grade.
“I was never very good,” Wyatt said. “I played good defense, but I fouled out most games.”
His football career began in sixth grade.
“One of my best memories in high school football was in my freshman year,” Wyatt said. “We didn’t have the greatest season, but we beat Little Snake River at home. They were the defending state champs.
As he moved up each year, more milestones were set.
“We got a little better my sophomore year and we made the semi-finals,” Wyatt said. “We made semis every year from then on.”
That season, the Rams played Hulett in Ten Sleep for their final regular-season game, losing to the Red Devils, but the following week, they traveled across the state to the shadow of Devils Tower and beat that same Hulett team in the opening round of the playoffs.
His worst experience came in his junior season when the Rams lost to Burlington in the semifinals.
“We had some good games, football was fun; too bad we never made the finals,” Wyatt said.
The finals were something he was very familiar with on the wrestling mat. His dad was also his wrestling coach.
He took second in the Class 2-A finals at state as a freshman wrestling at 152 pounds, then won the 170-pound class his sophomore and junior year, then finished an outstanding season taking state at 190 as a senior.
He lost only two matches in his senior season. Once again, he remembers his competition.
“Cort Caitlin from Thunder Basin and Morgan Hatch from Lyman,” Wyatt said. “Hatch and I had been wrestling since second grade; maybe the 15th time we met.”
Perhaps more impressive than his three state titles was a runner-up finish at the Ron Thon in his junior year and a third-place finish in his senior year.
A true multi-sport athlete, Wyatt excelled in track as well, bringing home medals from the state championships all four years in high school.
“My freshman year, I didn’t do much. We placed in 4×400 and I made the finals in 110 and 300 hurdles,” Wyatt said. “My sophomore year I finally got good at the 300s. I should have won, but I was beaten by Loudon Brimmer from Lingle. My junior year I was second to Hadley Myers from Little Snake River. I won both hurdle races my senior year and finished second by .01 to Ty Stroschein from Riverside in the 200-meter dash.”
Athletics took up much of Wyatt’s time in high school, but he was an all-around student as well. He carried a 4.0 grade point average, was in the National Honor Society, Student Council, FCA, and still found time to take in the outdoor opportunities that abound in Dubois.
“I did anything outdoors you could do,” Wyatt said. “I got into snowmobiling really big. I’m hoping to get some in over break, but there’s no snow.”
Part of Wyatt’s athletic success is God-given, and part comes from a tremendous work ethic. He’s spent a lot of time in the weight room.
“I started lifting in second grade, doing little workouts,” Wyatt said. “My dad used a University of Nebraska workout program he took from Tom Osborne. Every day before school during 0 hour. The only time I’d lift heavy was when the football team came in.”
In high school, he bench pressed 295, squatted 435, deadlifted 435, and cleaned 255. He was clocked at 4.65 at the Chadron State Football Camp in the 40-yard dash.
“The Black Hills State lifting program has definitely shot those up,” Wyatt said.
He put on 20 pounds and weighed 202 at his heaviest weigh-in.
He’s now benching 325, squatting 465, deadlifting an impressive 565 pounds, and cleaning 275. His time in the 40 has dropped to 4.5
As a freshman he was able to play three games as a red shirt.
He started on all the special teams as a red shirt sophomore and was able to carry the ball a few times.
“I got plenty of field time,” Wyatt said. “I was in the backfield about 50 percent of the games. I got a whole drive against Adams State, four or five carries, and broke a couple of runs.”
His playing time next fall looks promising.
“Coach told me there is no reason for me not to start next fall,” Wyatt said. “I plan to play the fifth season and graduate in the fall.”
His girlfriend, Kenzi Day, a senior at Dubois, is tentatively planning to come to Black Hills to major in special education. Kenzi is a standout volleyball player and may go to Sheridan for volleyball.
Before Wyatt returns to Spearfish, he and Adria have a little trip planned.
“We’re going to Tahiti for Christmas. We were never a big vacation family,” Wyatt said. “My mom decided we don’t want to be home for Christmas without dad. She asked me ‘Where do you want to go?’ I was joking and said, ‘Tahiti.’ She said, ‘Let’s do it.’ We’ll be there for 12 days.”
Twelve days of Christmas in a tropical paradise. Who could argue?